Fox News host: No Republicans would defend Trump's Charlottesville comments on air

The White House communications office is urging the GOP to stick to the talking points they crafted saying President Trump is ‘entirely correct’ on Charlottesville. Susana Victoria Perez (@susana_vp) has more.
Buzz60

Fox News host Shepard Smith said Wednesday that his show hadn't been able to find Republicans to defend President Trump's controversial statements about the violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.

"Our booking team — and they're good — reached out to Republicans of all stripes across the country today," he said during Shepard Smith Reporting. "Let's be honest, Republicans don't really mind coming on Fox News Channel. We couldn't get anyone to come and defend him here."

Smith continued that the show believed someone should provide that perspective to provide balance.

"We worked very hard at it throughout the day and we were unsuccessful," he said. "And of those who are condemning the president's condemnable actions, I've not heard any prominent leaders, former presidents, members of the House or the Senate use his name while speaking in generalities."

Smith's on-air disclosure was made a day after the president delivered a combative press conference, in which he charged that both left wing protesters and white supremacists were both to blame for the violence in Charlottesville. Saturday's event included a car driving into a crowd, killing one woman and leaving dozens other injured.

"I think there is blame on both sides, and I have no doubt about it," Trump said Tuesday.

Smith has not shied away from criticizing the Trump administration and the president's surrogates. Last month, he slammed Donald Trump Jr. after details emerged about the Trump son meeting with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 presidential campaign.